The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe

¶ 01 Madam, I rise to a Point of Order.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I think Hon. Jeevan Thondaman has doubts on this matter, so I should clarify it for him. He even mentioned my name. Yes, we have worked in trade unions for a long time, together. But you also know that when a collective agreement is in force, as a Government we intervened to ensure wage increases outside that collective agreement. The President said this very clearly. Not through unions, but we brought the stakeholders together and discussed. As the Minister in charge of the subject, our Minister Samantha Vidyaratna was involved. We brought the employers to agree to increase the daily wage by Rs. 200. Even if you do not accept it or say someone else said so, the President will not come here and lie. You must now accept that. Rs. 200 was added to the daily wage. The employers also added that Rs. 200. As a Government we promised—

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, now when the Hon. Member is going to answer the question he asked, he is trying to interpret what she said. So— [Media noise.] Wait, let me give my answer.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the remaining Rs. 200 will be given by the Government. That Rs. 200 will be provided by the Government for 14 days — not 28 — Rs. 200 for 14 days. That is what will be given.

¶ 05 Yes, Hon. Member.